Gerry DiNardo on Michigan's Spring Football Practice

Submitted by hart20 on

Football news, you say? Gerry DiNardo visited Michigan's practice today and tweeted his observations. Here they are (if you'd rather read his tweets directly on Twitter, click here): 
 

  1. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines This Michigan team looks better than the last 5 at this point. Not only better but drastically different.

     
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  2. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Outstanding tailback play could make the difference in the season. It's one weapon that needs to emerge

     
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  3. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Michigan could have the two best offensive tackles in B1G. Schofield and Lewan.

     
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  4. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Best competition between offensive & defensive lines we've seen this spring They were smashing each other

     
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  5. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Watched one of the best and toughest defensive line pass rush drills ever.

     
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  6. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Freshman R Douglas, T Charlton most impressive.

     
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  7. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines 6 HS mid year guys enrolled.More than I remember Mich having in past @ least 4 have chance to help in 13

     
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  8. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines I remember watching Kali's on HS tape & he was impressive as he was today. Recruiting rankings do matter

     
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  9. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines We see a lot of good young GA coaches in the B1G today was no different.

     
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  10. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines We've seen a lot of good practices this spring tour but today's was the most physical.

     
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  11. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines Dinner break then more practice stuff

     
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  12. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines By the way Coach Short Sleeves practiced inside today. Love that guy.

     
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  13. BTN Spring Tour Stop 6 #Wolverines A few years ago UM made a turn from RR to BH. They are making an even bigger turn this year. Impressive

 

 

Should be a good year.

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Jeff09

March 27th, 2013 at 6:04 AM ^

If you beat the other team off the ball in the trenches consistently you will win a ton of football games. It's super cliche but that's because it's the truth.

Joined: 06/25/2011

MGoPoints: 8460

GrowBlue

March 27th, 2013 at 7:43 AM ^

Random Thoughts on selected tweets:

 

1. Nice that we're looking better than the other 5, but I'm not sure that's saying too much? Nebraska to me seems like a disorganized organization. I'm not sure why ... maybe it's my impression of Pelini. Also, who knows what to expect from Wisconsin this year given the transition. His other stops were Northwestern, Indiana, Illinois.

2. I agree with the other posters that this tweet should be interpreted: "Tailback play is the key, and Michigan needs to find it". =) We will.

3. This is duh, and not even close.

5. I *really* wonder what this drill is. This has to be one of the things that sets our staff apart.

6. Great to hear about Taco, since we may need him at WDE after the Beyer move. Gerry doesn't meantion Dymonte here, and with Mattison saying that he's been playing corner, that makes me curious. I thought he was a SS all the way? The staff isn't scared about playing Freshmam safeties (Wilson last year), so I'm not sure what to think about him yet.

7. Who are the 'other' 2? LTT is almost certainly one. Probably Bosch since he's an OL. I'd guess Taco and Butt play a fair amount, and Douglas and Thomas are on the 2/3 deep. (Also, Gerry uses '@' in '@ least 4 have chance ...'. That made me laugh)

 

 

Joined: 09/15/2011

MGoPoints: 299

LSAClassOf2000

March 27th, 2013 at 8:35 AM ^

It was intriguing to see him tweet about the GA coaches as well actually, and if I am not mistaken, that would be Ernie Lawson (who played under Hoke at SDSU for a bit, I believe) and Adam Stenavich (Michigan LT from 2001-2005, if memory serves). I think Stevanich spent some time in the NFL as well. What is interesting about it is that it another example of how the resurgence of this feeling of community around the program has brought people back to it (and how people follow Hoke as well). It is great to know that not only do we have an excellent staff, but we have depth there as well, it seems.  

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130636

Mr. Rager

March 27th, 2013 at 8:57 AM ^

I bet if you got DiNardo drunk and asked him, "If Derrick Green is legit / Toussaint is able to come back and be the #2 guy, is Michigan a NC contender?"

The answer would be:

"MORE BOURBON (yes)"

Joined: 11/16/2011

MGoPoints: 967

J.Madrox

March 27th, 2013 at 9:05 AM ^

Always good to hear positive news coming out of spring practice. If we can get good production out of Taco and the Green/Smith backfield I think this could turn into a very good year.

Happy that Hoke is bringing in talented freshman and the 6 EE's are already starting to turn some heads. All the spring news has me excited for football. I need the basketball team to keep playing in the tournament, otherwise there will be nothing to look forward to other then football.

Joined: 03/15/2013

MGoPoints: 1674

yoopergoblue

March 27th, 2013 at 9:42 AM ^

I'm really not worried about our defense at all this year.  The only potential problem could be the CBs if Countess isn't 100% come Fall.  The DL will be the best we've had since 2006 and our LB corps will be fast and physica even without Ryan.  We'll have some speed in the back end with Wilson and MRob at FS.  

Offensively there won't be a better set of OTs in the B1G or maybe even the country. Whoever ends up at the guard spots next to Miller will be more than adquate.  Gallon, Darboh, Chesson, and Dileo will make some people wonder why we were so worried about our WRs this year.  I think we'll see Drake Johnson and Derrick Green both play a big role at RB and bring some physicality.  Things are looking up for this program.

Joined: 02/11/2010

MGoPoints: 2437

Magnus

March 27th, 2013 at 9:45 AM ^

I don't know if I agree about the defensive line.  It has potential, but Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen were a pretty damn good combination in 2011, even if the other two guys were just okay.  I think we'll have more quality depth this year, but the starters probably aren't as good as 2011's were.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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